Candidate Roundtable
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 3 September 2010 — 4 comments below »
Some rather incoherent commentary from our humble elected officials (on three issues: Intermodal Station and waterfront development, affordable housing, and the City Manager)…
Highlights include:
- Joe Eddy McDonald stating that there would be no delay in the Intermodal Station’s federal funding (but not mentioning the construction delay), plus stating that the surrounding development has nothing to do with the project (starting around 3:30 mark);
- Kris Valstad incorrectly using “i.e.” (at 7:25 mark) and then using it correctly later (which is only more frustrating);
- The two incumbents (Valstad and McDonald) both downplaying the recent affordable housing and open government scandals while the two challengers (Myrna de Vera and John Delgado) pressed hard on the issue; e.g., McDonald at 19:05 mark: “If people base their information on what the newspaper reports, well, then, we cannot run our city;” (of course, the City agreed with 7 of 8 of the grand jury’s findings and 4 of 5 of its recommendations); and
- Valstad and McDonald describing the beauty, tranquility and Utopian features of Hercules as reasons for voters to re-elect them (as if there is no room for improvement).
@ 20:36 via Kris (“Well I guess it gives me great pleasure..”????? You guess? Look, I’m not the best speaker around but for come man, you guess?
These bums need to go in November.
We have no idea if Ms. de Vera or Mr. Delgado will be any different than what we have but we have to be brave to take a chance. The status quo of these good ol’ boys has to be stopped.
THROW THE BUMS OUT!
Listening to the two current councilmembers you would think that everything is just great in Hercules. These are just two of five councilmembers that have rubberstamped everything brought before them from the city manager. Valstad and McDonald have never questioned why the City Manager didn’t take steps to disavow himself from NEO. They should never have let Olivia let this family run our Afforadable Housing, Home Mitigation Depts .Valstad and McDonald are at fault for not protecting Hercules. A Vote for Valstad and McDonald will be a vote for continued rubberstamping. Vote for Delgado and DeVera, we may have a chance for change and open government.
After watching this debate, it is clear that Planning Commissioner de Vera and John Delgado are more in tune to the residents concerns about “Ethics Reform”. Mayor Valstad and Mcdonald are in to tune to business as usual, and are of the belief that there has been no breach of ethics at City Hall. When you have a City Attorney that would like to tase a speaker at a public hearing and the City Manager hiring his family and approving the type of home loans for his staff and they think there are no “ethics problems” it is time to elect new members to the council.
No incumbents!